Monday, November 16, 2015

Rain pounds Tamil Nadu as depression looms large

Tamil Nadu continued to experience monsoon fury, with heavy rains
pounding various parts of the State under the influence of a well-marked
low pressure area over Bay of Bengal, as the death toll from
rain-related incidents climbed to 59.

There seemed to be no respite from the downpour with many parts of
Chennai coming under water even as the weatherman forecast more rains
for the next 24 hours, beginning 0830 hrs.

The India Meteorological Department said in a bulletin on Sunday that
the well-marked low pressure area over southwest Bay of Bengal adjoining
Sri Lanka persisted and “it is likely to move west-northwestwards
towards Tamil Nadu coast and would concentrate into a depression during
next 24 hours.”

Under its influence, more rains were expected in the next 24 hours, the Regional Meteorological Department said.

Weather warning (valid upto 0830 hrs IST of Monday):

Day 1 (15th Nov.): Heavy to very heavy rain would occur at a few
places over north Tamil Nadu. Heavy rain would occur at isolated places
over south Tamil Nadu. Moderate fog would occur at isolated places over
Meghalaya, Nagaland-Manipur-Mizoram-Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana,
Chandigarh & Delhi and north Rajasthan.

Day 2 (16th Nov.): Heavy to very heavy rain would occur at a few
places over Tamil Nadu & Puducherry and at isolated places over
Rayalaseema. Heavy rain would occur at isolated places over couth
coastal Andhra Pradesh, south Tamil Nadu and south interior Karnataka.
Moderate fog would occur at isolated places over Meghalaya and Nagaland,
Manipur, Mizoram-Tripura.

Day 3 (17th Nov.): Heavy to very heavy rain would occur at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalseema.

Heavy rain would occur at isolated places over north Tamil Nadu and south interior Karnataka.

Day 4 (18th Nov.): Heavy to very heavy rain would occur at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Day 5 (19th Nov.): Nil.

Weather Outlook for the subsequent 2 days (20th Nov. & 21st Nov. 2015): Rain/thundershowers
would occur at many places over Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh,
Rayalseema and Kerala and would increase considerably over rest
peninsular India. Minimum temperature would fall by 2-3 degrees C over
northwest and adjoining central India.

A water-logged Wall Tax road in Chennai. Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam

Schools, colleges closed on Monday

Monday has been declared a holiday for schools and colleges in Chennai and Kanchipuram districts.

* VIT University has declared holiday for Vellore campus on November 16, 2015.

* The practical examinations of all UG and PG courses of the TN Dr. MGR
Medical University scheduled for November 16 and 17, 2015 stand
postponed due to heavy rains. The revised dates shall be notified later.

* “Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University-affiliated law colleges exams
scheduled for November 16, 17 and 18 have been cancelled due to rain and
the new dates will be announced later,” said a release.

He said heavy to very heavy rains could be expected in the northern
coastal districts of the State in the next 24 hours while there could be
rain in the rest of the districts.

Rains were also expected in Puducherry on Monday.

The seas would be rough, he said, warning fishermen against venturing for fishing.

MTC bus stuck on Ganesapuam subway, Vyasarpadi. Photo: R. Ragu

Deaths in Tamil Nadu

Meanwhile, four persons died due to various rain-related incidents on November 13 and 14, the government said.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa condoled the death of the four persons,
three of whom died due to drowning in Kancheepuram district while one
person in Vellore was killed in wall collapse. She announced a sum of Rs
four lakh each to the families of the victims from the Disaster Relief
Fund.

Situation in Chennai

Bullocks wearing a plastic sheet as it rains at T.Nagar in Chennai on Sunday. Photo: M. Moorthy

The incessant rains severely crippled normal life in Chennai, where most
roads, residential areas and low-lying parts were inundated.

Subways at suburban Chennai connecting the residential areas were inundated, rendering them useless for commutation.

A scene from Thillai Ganga Nagar. Photo: G. Sribharath

Water-logged roads resulted in slow movement of vehicles even as
pedestrians were seen wading through waist-deep to knee-deep water in
many places.